Hey- Normal talking

Hey- Kazuto's inner monologue

'Hey'- People thinking

(Hey)- Inner circles mean places or time skips

~Flashback~


If it wasn't for Shino's new friends, she would have been at her wit's end. No matter how persistent she was in telling the nurse that she was fine, she wasn't allowed to leave. A girl can't just faint and wake up in a hospital without being watched like a hawk could she!? Geez.

If someone were to tell Shino that all the pain she had to go through would be necessary to find the right people in the future, she would scoff and look at you as if you were crazy. I mean, who would like to be friends with a killer without anything distorted in mind? Looking back, she would admit that it all feels worth it. It brought a smile to Shino's face when her friends chose to stay with her. Even when she gave them an overshadowing of her life not being so bright, they wouldn't budge. Her smile grew tenfold when her savior said that it didn't matter for she was just a person brought up by pain that shouldn't even be hers to begin with. If this didn't make her appreciate life, she honestly wouldn't know what would. A week has passed and gone as quickly as the summer breeze, refreshing and melancholic. Her friends have chosen to go out and commemorate their new friendship by inviting her to their usual hideout which was called Shisui's Arcade in order to get acquainted with each other since, in the chibi's own words, it "wasn't on the greatest of terms". Which now brings us to the present…

"Hmm." said chibi squinted her eyes with puffed cheeks "We should introduce ourselves in a great fashion…"

"Um. There isn't much to it you know?" the brown haired boy besides her muttered with a sweatdrop.

'Come to think of it, is his hair really that bright or is he a blond?' Shino thought in her head as she glanced his way.

Ignoring him completely, the chibi brightened up as if receiving a revelation.

"I know! I saw this in an anime once and I thought it sounded pretty cool." coughing into her hand to gather the group's attention, she then turned serious, or as serious as a little kid could get anyway. "I want you to start off your introductions by giving your name, likes, dislikes and dreams for the future."

"Oh?" the ravenette next to a blond girl said with mirth. "Would you mind giving an example?"

"Sure!" she chirped. "My name is Suguha Kirigaya. I have many likes and not many dislikes. As for dreams for the future...I don't have one right now!" she finished with a huge grin.

'All you gave us was your name…' the three people deadpanned.

'You've been watching Naruto haven't you?" he sighed with a smile.

"Yup!"

"Okay. I guess I should start then. My name is Kazuto Kirigaya. I like kendo, my family, and my friends. I dislike arrogant people that think they're better than everyone else and people that like to cause harm for their own amusement. My dream for the future is to be able to help shape the world into one where many could live happily." he finished with his eyes shining with so much intensity that it left them all with awe.

"You've really thought it through haven't you Kazuto." the blond girl teased.

"S-so what?" he questioned with a blush.

"Nothing really" she gave him an impish grin.

"Why don't you go then!?" he said with indignation.

They were so caught up trying to ignore each other's taunts that they didn't notice two death glares being directed at them.

"Sure! Hi, my name is Alice Zuberg. I like helping people, dancing, singing, and poking fun at the boys. I dislike people that harm others for no reason. As for dreams, I would like to start learning Kendo next year in order to learn discipline and have something in common with my friends." she finished with a serene smile that made Eugeo blush.

'He likes her.' Shino noted with a small smile.

"Alright little brownie, your turn." Kazuto looked at Eugeo with a cheshire grin that clearly says 'I know what you're thinking but I won't tell'. It took all of Eugeo's willpower not to gulp.

"M-my name is Eugeo Gesualdo. I like my friends and my family. I dislike people that flaunt their power to make others feel inferior. Also, I dislike some of the old man's training lessons because they felt more like chores. Mostly the things someone his age won't be able to finish without breaking his back." he said with a smug grin as he looked directly at Kazuto. Said person had a visible tick mark as he quelled the urge to strangle him then and there.

'Old man?' Shino questioned with a tilt of her head.

"I bet you're just mad because you can't cook as good as myself!" Kazuto said haughtily. "You almost burned the kitchen when you were boiling water."

"How was that my fault!? You were supposed to look after it!" Eugeo said in indignation.

"I was preparing the food Eugeo. You only had to look after the boiling water!" Kazuto said in exasperation.

"Don't you point that finger at me! You're also to blame!"

"How!?"

"I don't know! You just are!"

That makes no sense!"

"Yes it does!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"N-"

"BOYS!" both Suguha and Alice said with a sickly sweet smile.

"Sorry!" said people whimpered.

"W-what?" Shino couldn't comprehend the absurdity of it all. 'They're acting like children'

"See! Even Shino thinks you guys are immature!" Alice exclaimed with a pout. "You guys will be the reason we'll leave a bad impression on our new member."

"It's not my fault!" Kazuto said with his head turned to the side. "I did say that a way to a woman's heart is through his cooking. You should have seen how happy he was at the statement!" he finished with his own impish grin as he saw both Alice and Eugeo blush.

"W-what!?" was the only thing the duo could say.

"Besides, I doubt our new friend would think less of us! Right Shino?" he pleaded with soft eyes as he turned to look at said girl's direction.

For a moment, Shino looked like a deer caught in the headlights as she glanced his way.

'W-what?' she thought with a blush.

"Don't bring her into this big brother! I, for one, agree with Alice. You could be a bad influence sometimes." as Suguha finished her statement as if it were mere facts, both Eugeo and Alice nodded sagely.

"Yep."

"She does have a point Kazu."

'She even has a nickname for him?' Shino thought with a small pout.

'No fair! How come you haven't given me a nickname Alice!?' Eugeo thought with small streams of tears as Suguha patted his back sympathetically.

"Wha!? You're just as bad of an influence as I am! Don't think I forgot when you and Sugu started screaming at the top of your lungs when you drank too much soda!" Kazuto pointed at her accusingly.

"Huh!? N-no we didn't!" both Alice and Suguha blushed at the memory.

"Anyway…" Suguha cleared her throat to try and steer the conversation into another direction. "It's your turn Shino!"

"Um, right. My name is Shino Asada." she started off with a small voice. "I don't have many likes due to certain circumstances. I hate guns and I also dislike people that bully others without them knowing about their past. As for dreams for the future, I haven't thought of it." Shino was able to finish a bit more strongly when she saw her friends pay attention to her without flinching.

"See! That wasn't so bad!" Suguha said cheerfully.

"Shino Asada huh? It's a beautiful name." Kazuto said with a small smile.

"T-thanks." Shino said timidly with her face flushing red.

'I can't believe that we aren't that much different you and I Shino. I just wished you wouldn't have ended up seeing the darkness of the world so early.' Kazuto thought sadly. 'I swear, I'll bring happiness to your life no matter what!'

"Beautiful huh?" Eugeo said with his own cheshire grin.

"Hm? Of course. Besides, shouldn't you know more about that word than me Eugeo? After all the times I've heard you call Ali-" Kazuto couldn't finish his sentence as Eugeo moved at the speed of light and clamped his hands over his mouth.

'S-shut up" he hissed as he saw mirth dancing in his friend's coal black eyes.

Both Kazuto and Eugeo failed to notice Shino and Alice look at the floor shyly as they butted heads with lighting dancing between them. Only when Suguha tapped their shoulders with a smile that promised death did they stop.

"Hey Eugeo. You remember that the Kendo Championship will start in three weeks right?" Kazuto said seriously.

"Yeah I know." Eugeo said just as serious. "I've been thinking, and I feel that it's best that we stop training with each other in order to prepare for the tourney. Do you agree?"

"Yeah. It seems like the best course of action considering the fact that this time, there will be more people wanting to try and take the top three spots."

"Heh. It's because of the prize this time."

"No kidding." Alice said with a nod. "The top three contestants not only receive an absurd amount of money, but they receive their very own NerveGear."

"NerveGear?" both Suguha and Shino asked with a tilt of their head.

"Yep. It's a helmet that relies on the function to read and transform information that is then sent to the brain and turned into brain pulse commands within the virtual world in order to emulate sensation and perception." Kazuto said with a gleam of excitement shining within his eyes.

"Not only that, but with the rumored games that will soon come out, many people will try and obtain the NerveGear before others." Eugeo added in with his own grin.

"You guys seem awfully excited." the girls deadpanned.

"Of course!" both boys shouted. "With this, we'll be able to cement our own legend in video games!"

"Of course…" the girls sighed.

"Say Shino…" Eugeo started off with a small grin. "Will you go and see our matches for the Kendo World Tourney in three weeks? I know someone in particular you would like to see face off against someone as great as I." he puffed out his chest in pride.

"W-what?" Shino squeaked out all flustered.

"Oh come on. We both know you're light years away from matching my skills kid." Kazuto turned his nose up in the air. "I, for one, am looking forward to fighting Kai again. He did promise he'd settle the score next time we meet."

"Hey! Just to let you know, I'm getting better at my swordplay! I'm surprised your old age hasn't hindered your movements yet!" Eugeo pointed at him in irritation.

"Ha! Nice try but everyone knows I'm the people's champ. There's no way old age could ever catch up to me!"

"So you do agree! You are getting old!" he smirked.

"Huh!? When did I ever say that you brownie!?" Kazuto called out in mild anger.

"Who you calling a brownie you old man!?"

"Old man!?"

"Yeah! Just look at all those gray blotches you're starting to get on your hair"

"You did not just go there!"

"Just did!"

"Why yo-"

"~Boys~" three sing song voices sent shivers down their spines. Wait, three?

Both boys turned their heads slowly to the third voice and see Shino with light overshadowing her glasses that gave her an even scarier appearance.

"U-um S-shino?" Eugeo asked timidly.

"Yes?" she asked sweetly.

"A-are you okay?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

"N-no reason." both him and Kazuto broke out in a cold sweat.

"Hoho! You'll fit just fine with us Shino." Alice nodded in approval.

"Yep. It's be great to have another person keep them in check!" Suguha said cheerfully.

"Don't give her any ideas!" Kazuto screamed with a hint of nervousness.


(Few hours later)

"Well aside from the boys' usual antics, this was actually pretty fun!" Suguha exclaimed.

"No kidding. It's so nice to have another girl on board." Alice sighed happily. " Especially of how much of a handful they could be."

Eugeo and Kazuto stayed a little back to sulk around.

"Um. Is it okay to talk bad about them all the time?" Shino held her hands together in nervousness as she looked back at the rainclouds the boys seemed to have attached to them.

"Yep." both girls chirped. "It teaches them discipline."

"God knows they need plenty of it." Alice sighed in irritation.

"Say, Kazuto…" Eugeo started off after looking around.

"Yeah?" the ravenette asked in sadness.

"Be honest with me. How much have I really improve in all these years?"

Dispelling the gloomy atmosphere and turning serious, Kazuto responded analytically.

"Comparing the you from now than the you from the past is like comparing a cocoon to a butterfly." Seeing Eugeo's quizzical look, he elaborated. "There is no means of comparison since there is no real basis. Think of yourself as the cocoon. It took a long process to evolve in skills. You couldn't even hold a shinai properly in the first day of our training. However, as the days went by, you managed to improve greatly by leaps and bounds. I'm going to be honest with you. The way you were able to evolve so quickly shocked me. Many people had hailed me as a prodigy for being able to beat other contestants older than myself on the first day of my kendo debut. So, if I'm considered a prodigy, you could be classified as a genius. Not only were you able to break down the Itto Hebi style little by little as time went on, but you effectively changed it completely to the point that it can be classified as a different sword play all together. Although it has some of my movements ingrained into it, you included your very own variations. Some of which have left me in awe."

Kazuto threw the gapping Eugeo a sincere smile that conveyed how proud he was of his apprentice.

"I can firmly state that you could be able to give anyone a hard time if you were given the time to analyze their skill set. As it stands, it really gets my blood pumping knowing that you and Kai will be competing. I'm really proud of you, Eugeo." he finished off with a grin.

"Thanks Kazuto." Eugeo looked at him with fire in his eyes. "I promise you that i will try my best and fight with all I've got until i face you in the finals."

"Glad to hear it! I'm looking forward to it my friend. Just make sure you don't get eliminated too early okay?" Kazuto gave him a toothy grin as he and Eugeo shook hands. Even if they seemed to fight all the time, they are still best friends...no, more than that. They could really call themselves brothers with the same goal in mind: get as string as they could in order to protect what is precious to them.

The atmosphere was then broken as easy as glass.

"Awe. They're getting along!" Alice squealed in joy.

"Is this a dream!?" Suguha questioned herself in alarm. "Shino! Please, pinch m-ouch*!"

"Hey! We're not that bad!"

"Yeah yeah." Shino nodded mockingly. "Let's just go. It's getting late."

"Of course princess!" Kazuto mock saluted passionately.

"D-don't say that!" she shouted a little flustered.

"Right my bad." he scratched his head with a small grin.

'Yep. He's a clueless womanizer.' Eugeo hung his head with a small grin. 'But still, this doesn't change the fact that i was able to grow stronger because of him. He, a champion, was able to see value in me that many were quick to put down when I asked around. I won't let you down Kazuto. I will get better! One of these days, I'll be sure to beat you and leave my own mark on the world.'

Kazuto took a quick glance his way and set his eyes on the setting sun. 'Try your best huh? I guess I'll do the same. There's no way that I'll let you surpass me just yet little bro, not when there is still so much to teach you.' He then glanced at the rest of the people he came to love as family. 'Especially when the League is lurking around. I'll ask Eraser to help me pick up my training. I finally have something I want to protect and I'll be damned if I let anything happen to them.' he clenched his hand in determination as the sun went down.

~ Flashback ~

(One year ago)

"H-hey Mic." a panting Kazuto called out. "W-why is it that Eraser is pushing me more than usual?"

"Ah. So you've noticed." Hizashi nodded as he patted the seat next to him. Kazuto shot him a grateful look as he let his muscles relax. "Due to loose rumors and little valuable information, we were able to semi-confirm that the League has been having close ties to the Hiei Hasaikai yakuza group. Separate, the Hero Society had no problems chasing them down. Now however, the tables have turned. Two yakuza groups banning together to try and bring chaos has many people on edge. Especially on Eraser."

"Oh?" Kazuto asked quizzically. "How come?"

Looking at the setting sun outside of the dojo, Hizashi had a faraway look. "It's because he finally has something to protect."

"How does that make someone strong?" Kazuto whispered lightly.

"Trust me kiddo." Hizashi ruffled Kazuto's hair with a big grin. "Once you find the one thing you want to protect, you'll understand. For now..."

"Alright brat! Time's up." a voice roared out.

"...try to survive. Ja ne!" Hizashi ran away as if hell itself was chasing him.

"W-wait! Mic! TAKE ME WITH YOU!"

~ Flashback End ~

"For such a weird guy, you're quite perspective Hizashi." Kazuto whispered serenely.

"Hurry up Kazuto!" Eugeo said with a grin.

Looking at the group in front of him, Kazuto couldn't stop a smile from surfacing. "Coming!"

I've always thought that a person was only strong through training. I'm guessing that having something to look forward to can be just as enticing as strength itself. Those bonds i hold so dear to my heart, I'll make sure not to severe them.